Maybin returns from 25-game suspension

Center fielder says positive test resulted from 'honest mistake'

San Diego Padres' Cameron Maybin runs out a ground rule RBI double against the Colorado Rockies during the sixth inning of an MLB baseball game on Monday, July 7, 2014, in Denver (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
The Associated Press

San Diego Padres' Cameron Maybin runs out a ground rule RBI double against the Colorado Rockies during the sixth inning of an MLB baseball game on Monday, July 7, 2014, in Denver (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

LOS ANGELES  A ruptured biceps tendon cost Cameron Maybin the first 25 games of this season. What Maybin and the Padres maintain was “an honest mistake” cost him another chunk of time.

Maybin returned to the Padres on Wednesday, having served a 25-game suspension without pay after testing positive for an amphetamine, which is banned under Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The center fielder said his positive test resulted from a medication he used to treat his attention deficit disorder.

The problem, according to Maybin: Following a recent prescription change, he no longer had a therapeutic use exemption (TUE), which allows a player with medical needs to use a prohibited substance.

“The toughest part was feeling like I did everything I was supposed to do,” Maybin said before Wednesday’s game at Dodger Stadium. “I feel like I followed protocol. My only mistake was not knowing that, during a prescription change, when you have a TUE, you’ve got to go through the process all over again. And that was my mistake, not knowing that.”

Maybin’s suspension was announced on July 23. Under MLB policy, it meant that he had tested positive twice for the amphetamine. A first positive had meant that he was subject to six unannounced follow-up tests over the 12 months after the initial violation, in addition to the standard random testing.

“I just happened to have two tests within about a week of each other,” Maybin said. “When you have a TUE, MLB wants to see that you’re taking your medicine as prescribed. I went and saw a doctor two or three times before the test and had my prescription changed. I thought that I did the right thing. I didn’t really know the specifics of having to go and get it reapproved all over again.

“I’ve been taking this medicine for the past three or four years,” Maybin added. “I’m not a guy who was trying to gain an edge.”

Maybin said that, during his suspension, he was granted a TUE for the medication that had resulted in his testing positive.

“That was kind of tough to swallow, knowing that MLB -- they reached out to me -- didn’t see me as a guy who was trying to manipulate the system,” Maybin said. “They really thought it was an honest mistake, but the rules are the rules.”

Maybin said he considered appealing the suspension but ultimately decided against it. He said he was informed that losing an appeal could lead to missing more games.

“I’ve lost enough games, as is,” he said, “and I didn’t want to lose any more.”

The Padres went 15-10 minus Maybin, who said his teammates and coaches kept in contact with him throughout his suspension. At the time the ban was levied, Maybin issued a statement, apologizing to his “family, friends, fans, teammates, and the entire Padres organization.”

“We talked quite a bit before the suspension that I didn’t think anything needed to be said,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “He went through a lot of anguish over this.”

Maybin did not immediately return to the starting lineup, beginning Wednesday’s game on the bench. He was hitting .247 with one home run and nine RBIs in 62 games. He’d missed much of April after rupturing his left biceps tendon in spring training.

As his suspension was winding down, he played five minor league rehab games with Triple-A El Paso, going 5-for-16 with a double and two RBIs.

“His numbers have been down a little bit this year,” Black said. “He has to improve on that.”

To make room on the Padres’ active roster, infielder Jace Peterson was optioned to Triple-A El Paso. To make room on the 40-man roster, left-hander Bobby LaFromboise was designated for assignment.

The Padres now have five designated outfielders on the roster: Maybin, Abraham Almonte, Rymer Liriano, Seth Smith and Will Venable. The latter four have collectively been playing well of late, raising the question of what happens to their playing time.

“You’re talking about three spots for five guys,” Black said. “We’ll work through that.”